Leveling device for steam shovels



March 30 1926. 1,579,035

M. B. RYAN LEVELING DEVICE FOR STEAM SHOVELS Filed May 21, 1925 4 Sheets-511w i March 30 1926. 1,579,035

M. B. RYAN LEVELING DEVICE FOR STEAM'SHOVELS Filed May 21, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet? 4 Sheets-Sheet M. B. RYAN LEYELING DEVICE FOR STEAM SHOVELS Filed May 21, 1925 March 30 1926.

March 30,1925. 1,579,035

M. B. RYAN LEVELING DEVICE FOR STEAM SHOVELS Filed May 21, 1925 #She/es-Sheet 4 5 /5 W 4 W 4/ 2 I 4 x I I 15 grade.

Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT or-F ca.

' mrcmnn. RYAN, or lnos ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LE VELING DEVICE FOR STEAM SHOVELS.

a lication filed May 21, 1925. seriaino. 31,839.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL E. RYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the'county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Leveling Dcvices for Steam Shovels, of which the following is a specification.- i

This invention relates to steam shovels,

limited by the standards'or uprights of the A frame .and when; the steam shovel is working on an upgrade the boom tends to swing rearwardly due to gravitation. movement of the boom may be checkedand brought to a. stop at any desiredpoint by the engine provided forswinging the boom, however, the operator. of the shovel-must be constantly on .the alert, more so than when the shovel is operated on a level, and

if he inadvertently fails to quickly checkthe rearward swinging ,movement of the boom it will occasionally develop so much" speed that it cannot be stopped, except by dropping the loaded dipper, and if this is not instantly done, the boom will strike one of the standards of the A frame and in some instanceswhen the dipper is heavilv loaded the A frame will be struck with such force as to partially demolish it, which will put the shovel out of commission untilthe A frame is repaired.

When the shovel is-being operated on a downgrade, a reversal of the above conditions take place, hence no damage or accidents can occur due to the swinging ofthe boom rearwardly. Additional'power, however, must be applied to swing the boom rearwardly and it must be held in a rearward position while the dipper is being unloaded.

While this is not so very objectionable.

I the total 'sum of the additional amount of power required in a days runto swing the The boom rearward will be a considerable amount, of course, depending upon how steep the grade is.

It will also be appreciated that when the shovel is working on a grade, the 7 water level in the bo1ler 1S affected, 1. e., the water tends to be at a higher level at one end of the boiler, which of course, is obviously very objectionable. v

The object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for leveling a Standard steam shovel while operating on either an up or downgrade. The object is accomplished by the disclosure herein set forth, by the following description of the accompanying drawings, the novel features hereof being pointed out in the appended claims,-

which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a Standard steam shovel as it appears while operating on an upgrade and showing the shovel on a level and held in this position by the level-.

ing apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken online 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation taken.

on lines 3-- 3-of Fig. 1. g Fig. 4 is a fragmentar the rear truck, showing the shovel on a leveland the tracks on anincline.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectinthrough the rear truck, showing theshovel and tracks y; side elevation ofon an incline with the shovel raising apparatus as it appears before being operated tor'aise the level of the shovel.

Fig. .7 is a view analogous .to Fig. 6, 7 showing the shovel after it has been raised to its highest position by the mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a view analogous to Figs. 6 and 7 and corres onding to Figs. 1, 4 and 5,

showing the s ovel as it appears after being brought to a. level position.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on a line 1010 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 11, 12*and/ 13 are viewsshowing details of parts of the shovel leveling mechanism.

Fig; 14 is a vertical section taken through a steam shovel mounted on caterpillars looking rearward. a

- which is mounted on a pair of railroad and.- a boom designated at 14 is rotatably trucks 11 and 12 respectively. A center casting, generally designated at 13 is mounted on the. forward end of the shovel mounted on the center casting in the usual manner. usual A frame 15, having standards 16 and 17 connected at their upper ends by an equalizer 18, which in turn is connected to a beam or brace 19 which extends rearwardly and is secured to the floor. of the shovel in the usual manner.

The boom carries a crowding engine 20,

which operates a bail 21, carrying a dipper 22, by means of the usual rack and pinion construction. The dipper is provided with a sheave 23 adapted to receive a chain 24 which passes over a plurality of pulleys 25 mounted on the boom, thence through the center casting under a pulley 26 and around 35.. the hoisting drum 27 I An intermediate shaft 28-is adapted tomove the shovel backward 'or forward by means of a chain 29, which engages a split.

sheave 30 secured to the rear axle 31 of the forward truck 11, and a chain 32 engaging a sheave 33," secured to the front axle 34 of the rear truck 12,

The shovel 10 has a floor 35," to which is secured the center pivot casting 36 adapted to engage a member 37 secured to the crossbeam 38 of the truck, which is mounted between and 39.2 p v r A king pin 40, having a head 41, extends through the casting 36, member 37 and crossbeam 38 and is provided with a split key 42., The casting 36 is substantially of the 4 same form as is commonly used and answers the same purpose, that is, for allowing pivotal movement of the trucks. In the present instance, the casting 36 is of cylin drical shape and is securedto the floor of the shovel by bolts 43 engagin'g flanges 44 formed thereon.

A segmental block 47 is pivotally connected .to the casting 36 by a pin 49 extending through openings in a pair of ears 36? on the casting 36 and a'slot 50 in an arm 48, formed on the segmental block 47 In a like manner'a segmental block 51, having an arm 52 is pivoted to the center casting The boom is supported by the.

manently left in place on the shovel. .cam 55 and segmental'blocks47 and 51 and the cables '64 and66 are not applied 1 atright angles to theside bars I 36 by pin 53 extending through a pair of ears on the casting 36, and a slot 54 formed in the arm 52. The; segmental block 47 has an annular lug 47 airc'h grooves 47*? are formed in theend faces 47 The segmental block 51 has an annular. lug 50 and tongues 50 formed on the end faces 50.

The segmental blocks are used for re taining the steam shovel in level position,

therefore, various lengths of these blocks are provided. For example, if it is necessary to raise one end of the shovel three inches, segmental blocks three inches long are used, and if it is necessary to raise the shovel ten inches, a corresponding pair. of segmental blocks are used.

The shovel is raised by a cam 55, whicl is formed in two pieces 56 and 57, having curved faces adapted to'engage a front axle 34 and is held in place-thereon by studs 58 having nuts 59. The cam 55 is adapted to engaged a curved face 60 of an inverted arcuate member61, which engages aremforclng plate 62 secured to the underside floor 35 of the shovel, and is held'in place by bolts 63 extending through the floor and reinforcing plate. The cam is'raised by a chain or cable 64 which is carried to and wrapped around the hoisting drum 27. Thecable 64 is fastened to a link 65 passing through an opening 56% formed in the part 56-of the cam 55. L L

The forward truck 11 is provided with a similar mechanism as above described and is operated by chain or cable 66 whichalso may be carried to the hoisting drum 27, it being understood that the-hoisting chain 24 need not be. removed from the hoisting drum before the cables 64 and 66 are applied theretoy I The member 61 and casting 36 are per- The until it is necessary to level the shovel.

When. itis desired to levelthe shovel, the distance necessary to raise the forward or rear end of the shovel is thendetermined by the ade. A pair pf segmental blocks of suflicient length are then applied to the casting 36 and the cam 55 is secured with the axle 31 or 34, depending upon'which end of the shovel must berraised. The cam 55 is then raised by the rotation of the hoisting drum 27, the-movement of which may be very accurately adjusted by manipulating the throttle of the hoisting engine. In other Words, the shovel will not be raised too suddenly.

The hoisting drum is rotated until the shovel is raised into position as shown'in Fig. 7, at which time the segmental blocks will have their faces 47. and 50 abutting and the tongues 50 will be fitting within the grooves 47". The hoisting .drum is then reversed which'will allow the canrto inove downward, which in turn will allow the segmental blocks to drop into the annular recess 67 of the member 37 and the annular lugs 47" and 50 will pass into the annular groove 36 of the casting 36, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

By use of the cam 55 and the member 61, the shovel may be raised about thirty inches. Hence, extensions must be provided for the king pin 40. 2 These are indicated at 40 having threaded shanks 40 adapted to engage female threads formed in the end I bearings are preferably formed of cast steel and have an opening 70 which will permit the bearings to oe pushed over the bumper.

The bearings are'held in place by -tapered keys 71, it being understood that the side bearings are placed in position when the shovel is raised to the position as shown in Fig. 7.- Therefore, when the cam 55 is lowered, the shovel will be 'prevented fromtilting sidewise, as the top surface 72 of the side bearings will be in a position to engage the underside 7 3 of the bumpers 74 secured to the floor 35 of the shovel.

The shovel 10 is prevented from travel- D ing backward by rail clamps 7 5 as shown in Fig. 1. Rail clamps 76 may also be placed .under the rear wheel of the rear truck 12 if desired. p

In addition to raising and lowering the forward and rear ends of the shovel in order that it may be brought to a level position,

the shovel leveling device may also be em-.

ployed to temporarily lift either end of the 'shovel in use in place of a jack. This is very advantageous in the event that the shovel runs off the track, as either end may be quickly lifted'and blocked, thereby -per mitting the trucks to be replaced on the track. 7 I

' Referring to Figs. 14 and 17, the shovel is mounted on caterpillar trucks, generally desi nated at 80 and consists ehiefl of trea s or endless chains 81 and 82 whic are movably mounted on frames 83 and 8,4.

which are pivotally mounted ona shaft 85. A shaft 86 is formed integral and at right angles to theshaft85 and is mountedin bearings 87 of a casting 88. The casting 88 is 'pivotally mounted and is adapted to receivea center casting 89 secured to a center beam 90 of theframe 91 which supports the floor 92 of the steam shovel. The center casting 89 is cylindrical in shape and is adapted to rest within a recess 93 on the top 'of the casting 88.

The upper end of a king pin 9-1 is secured is adapted to receive an extension 96. 'The king pin normally extends through an opening 97 formed 1n the casting 88 and 1s held.

in place by a split key below a washer 99.

' The caterpillar truck is utilized for steering the steam shovel and is adapted .to

be swung about the pivoted center casting 89 by a screw 100 which is mounted in bear ings 101 secured to the underside of the frame 91.

A nut 102 engages the screw 100 and is held against rotation thereon by a clevis 103 mounted on the end-of-a shaft 104which is slidably mounted in asleeve 105, pivotally' mounted in brackets 106, which are secured to arms 107 formed integral with the casting 88.

An. inverted arcuate member 108 of the same construction as the arcuate member 61 shown in Figs. 1 to 13, is secured to the frame 91 and is adapted to be engaged by cam 109 pivotally mounteclon the shaft 85.

The cam 109 .is raised and lowered by a 7 cable 110 which is carried to and wrapped around the'hoisting drum of the steam shovel.

As shown in Fig. 16, the shovel is shown raised to its highest point during the operation of leveling and when in this osition the extension 96 is applied to the klng pin 94 and a pair of segmental blocks 111 are placed in the recess 93. The segmental blocks have annular lugs 112 adapted to interlock in recesses 113 formed in the underside of the center casting 89. After the extension 96 has been applied to the king pin 94 and the segmental blocks 1'11 placed in the recess the cam is lowered by reversing rotation/of the hoisting drum which will allow the center casting 93 to rest on top of the segmental blocks 111. The washer 98 is then placeclover the end of the extension 96 and the split key is then applied, it being understood, that the split key 7 simple in construction and is very substantial and may be easily applied to a steam shovel without altering the construction of the shovel and someparts of the apparatus may be permanently left on the shovel while the remaining parts may be easily removed when it is necessary to transport the shovel.

It will also be noted that no aux iliary'enhaving a floor supported upon trucks, means gine's are required and that the engine operating the hoisting drum which in turn operates the shovel rai'sing device, has ample power to accomplish raising the shove-l without difficulty.

Various changes maybe made without de parting from the spirit of the 'invention'as claimed.

lVhat is claimed is: j

1. Means 'for raising the forward or rear end of a steam shovel to a level position when the steam shovel is operating on an up swinging said cams so as to raise or lower of the steam shovel relatively tov "said truck's.

or downgrade, said means carried by the forward and rear trueksof the steam shovel and operated by the power plant of the steam shovel.

2. In a steam shovel, a cam rotatably mounted on an axle of a truck of the steam shovel, a member secured to the underside of theshovel directly above said cam, a cable connecting said cam with the hoisting drum of the steam shovel, said cam adapted to engage said members secured to theunderside of the shovel and elevate one end of the vsteam shovel when the hoisting drum is rotated and means for retainingtheend of the steam shovel in elevatedposition.

In combination with a steam shovel, its railroad truck, floor and hoisting drum of a mounted upon the floor adapted to be .en-

cam adapted to be rotatably mounted on one of the axles of the truck, an arouate member secured to the under side of said floor directly above saidcam, a cable adapted to be connected to said cam and hoisting drum of said truck, a pair of segmental blocks carried'by the center pivot casting, said cam adapted to elevate the floor of the steam shovel when said hoisting drum is'rotated,

said segmental blocks adapted to retain the steam shovel in position,

4-.A device for leveling a steam shovel I when 0 eratin on a ade. com risin a cam secured to the rear axle of the forward truck, a second, cam rotatably mounted on the front axle of the rear truck, a segmental block secured to the underside of the floor of the steam shovel directly above said first and second cam, said cam adapted to'be operated by a cable connecting said cams to the hoist mg drum of the steam shovel, said cams adapted to be operated independently of each other and elevate the forward or rear end oft-he shovel from an inclined to a level p0- sltion by rotation of said hoisting drum, and

.means carried by the center pivot casting of each of said trucks adapted to retain the steam shovel in a level position.

5. In combination Wltll, a steam shovel having a'floor mounted upon trucks, means operable by the power plant of the steam shovel for varying the distance between the floor andeither truck. 7

6.- Incombination with a steam-shovel operable by the power plant of the steam shovel mountedupon the trucks for varying the distance between the -fioor and the trucks having a 'floor mounted upon trucks, a cam pivoted upon each truck, engaging members mounted upon the floor adapted to be en- 7 gaged by said cams, and meansoperable bythe power plant of the steam shovel for the floor pivoted upon each truck, engaging members mounted upon thefloor adapted to be engalged by said cams, means operable by the power plant of the steam shovel for. swingmg said cams so as to raise or lower the floor of the steam shovel relatively tosaid trucks,

and means for supporting the floor in its elevated positiomafter ithas been raised by 4 the cams. I

9; In combination with a steam shovel having a floor mounted upon trucks, a cam pivoted upon each truck, engaging members 1 of the steam shovel relatively to said trucks,

cams, and means for preventing sidewise (means for supporting the floor in its; elevated position after it hasbeen raised by the y tilting of'the floor when in its elevated position. t

In testimony whereof I "have signed my name to this specification", 

